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Abstract
Geospatial Imaging for Climate Change
Dr Shailesh Nayak
SECRETARY
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
NDIA
Abstract
The changes in atmospheric concentration of green house gases and aerosols, in solar radiation and land
surface properties have altered the energy balance of the climate system of the earth. The increase in
green house gases is primarily due to fossil fuel use, land use changes and agriculture. In order to
understand the causes of change and their likely impact, the observation needs to encompass atmosphere
(cloud properties, radiative energy fluxes, precipitation, aerosol properties, wind, humidity, temperature,
etc.), atmospheric chemistry, solar radiation, land (land cover, land use changes, vegetation
dynamics, soil moisture, etc.), ocean (temperature, salinity, phytoplankton, sea surface wind, sea surface
topography) and cryosphere (land ice, sea ice, snow cover). During the last thirty years, host of satellites
have provided very useful data on many of the above mentioned parameters. Microwave radiometers
and
optical multispectral data have provided vital data on changes in ice cover on polar-regions and glacier
retreat on Himalayas. Altimeters provided data on sea-level-rise and on ocean circulation especially
during the last fifteen years. Thermal radiometers provided data on rise of sea surface temperature. The
growth and decay of ozone hole over the years has been monitored by satellites. It is necessary to evolve
a measurement strategy (overlap, sampling, calibration and data continuity) to improve accuracy and
scientific content for future satellites.
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